2008-01-28
From the second you heard the opening of "Your Lies" from her 1999 "I Am Shelby Lynne" release, the comparisons to '60s rock-soul icon Dusty Springfield began. So it is no surprise that, nine years later, Lynne does an entire album tribute to Dusty. What is surprising, however, is that Lynne doesn't try to sound like her idol at all; in fact, she transforms the nine remakes in this set into her own (track #9 is the only Lynne original, and the content sounds like pure Dusty). Outstanding musicianship helps a lot. Lynne stays away from the orchestral arrangements of the originals and goes with an understated quartet throughout. The drum/guitar opening on the title track is a killer, as are Lynne's lyrical pauses. Other highlights are "You Don't Have to Say" (#3), "Willie and Laura Mae Jones" (#7) and Randy Newman's "I Don't Want to Hear It" (#8). Tributes usually lag behind the originals; this one complements and at times even surpasses the classic inspiration. 01/08 MJVD R-PopPeter Wolf
A Cure For Loneliness
CANASTA
The Fakeout, The Tease, and The Breather
Richard X. Heyman
Actual Sighs
TEDDY BEARS
Soft Machine
Son Volt
The Search
GOT A GIRL
I love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.